Yam Truck Catches Fire: Creates Morning Traffic on 5 Freeway

If you were driving south on the 5 Freeway in Glendale this morning, you probably already knew that traffic was exceptionally terrible, with all but one lane being shut down. So what happened? Multiple news outlets inform us that a big rig -- loaded with 50,000 pounds of yams -- pulled over to the side of the road after it caught fire around 2:30 this morning. The fire was just north of the interchange with the 134 freeway. No injuries were reported, and as of now, the cause of the fire is unknown.

Some outlets cited information gathered from another CHP officer, Patrick Kimball, and reported the following: "The big rig that caught fire was hauling yams, the vegetable similar to and sometimes confused with sweet potatoes, Kimball said." So for those mistaking this accident for a sweet potato casserole -- no need to bring marshmallows.